New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Friday hear sociologist Ashis Nandy's plea seeking the quashing of an FIR filed against him under the SC/ST Act. The Rajasthan Police booked him under a non-bailable section, which invites upto 10 years in jail. Last week, Nandy had linked corruption to Dalits at the Jaipur Literature Festival kicking up a controversy.

While he was slammed by politicians including BSP supremo Mayawati, writers and authors backed Nandy, claiming that he had been misunderstood. Nandy too clarified that he was making an academic argument about corruption being an equaliser and that his comment was misinterpreted. Dalit historian Kancha Ilaiah said that Nandy used wrong language for a right argument.

Nandy on Tuesday said that he was ready to go to jail. "If at 75, I am tried under the atrocities act and convicted then I'll go to jail, I'll not contest it because I have worked for Dalits and adivasis for 45 years and I am not going to take this insult. I will go to jail," he said.

Last week, Ashis Nandy had linked corruption to Dalits at the Jaipur Literature Festival kicking up a controversy.